Hand manipulated toy

ABSTRACT

A reel arranged on a handle for relative rotation with respect to one another and to the shaft of which a cord is fastened at its one end to effect controlled centrifugal action of an object fastened to the other end of the cord upon manipulation of the handle.

Unlted States Patent 1 1 1111 3,834,069 Brown 1 1 Se t. 10, 1974 1 1 HAND MANIPULATED TOY 2,246,041 6/1941 Halberstadter 46/52 2,727,333 12/1955 R bl 46/52 [76] Inventor! Paul f Lakevlew way, 2,967,711 1/1961 Ai ide r son 273/98 Redwood Y callf- 94062 3,038,724 6/1962 Klamp 46/52 x [22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1972 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene [21] Appl' 219776 Assistant ExaminerD. L. Weinhold [52] US. Cl. 46/51 [51] Int. Cl A65h 1/32 [57] ABSTRACT 58 Field Of Search 46/51, 52, 60-63; A reel arranged on a hand]6 for relatlve rotation with 273 9 respect to one another and to the shaft of which a cord is fastened at its one end to effect controlled cen- [5 References Cited trifugal action of an objectfastened to the other end UNITED STATES PATENTS of the cord upon mampulatlon of the handle.

834,077 10/1906 Reiter 46/51 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HAND MANIPULATED TOY Many amusement as well as educational toys employing suspended balls have heretofore been devised and marketed. The majority of such types of toys have, as their principal object, the manual manipulation of a handle on which the ball is hung in order to swing the same in such a manner as to strike bells or other audible devices. In some instances, such prior type of toys are devised for hand manipulating the suspended ball in such a manner as to cause it to pass through an opening in the handle being manipulated. Amusement devices of this general character are disclosed and claimed in prior U.S. Pat, Nos. 2,105,462; 2,246,041 and 3,038,724. The present invention is directed to the provision of an improved toy which enables dexterous movements of a manually manipulated handle to control centrifugal action of the suspended object, such as a ball in various spheres or regions of centrifugal action whether it be circular, parabolic, elliptical or other type of orbit; and which obviates disadvantages of prior toys insofar as its less complex construction, its ease of assembly and its inexpensive manufacture.

A primary object of my present invention is to provide a hand manipulated toy which is capable of being manually played with by the unskilled as well as the skilled to effect a multiplicity of controlled centrifugal actions by a flying object suspended from a handle.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved hand manipulated toy of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by its controlled weight distribution between the entire weight of the reel and the suspended flying object thus enabling manipulation of the toy with enhanced dexter ity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hand manipulated toy of the aforementioned character which is susceptible to the incorporation therein of various attachments to lend attractiveness thereto and to exhibit a variety of different color, animal and bird effects.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hand manipulated toy of the indicated character which can be played with indoors or outdoors and which affords educational advantages as well as amusement to the players.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of the best mode of construction thereof and the manner of assembling and using the same, as well as of certain modifications thereof, which all are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that variations from the embodiments shown are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section to illustrate the construction, of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational fragmentary view, partly in section to show the construction, of a modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of some of the components of the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; this view showing the two hands of a person holding the embodiment in a position to initiate action.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reel and handle components of still another modification of the invention with attached friction roller for spinning such components.

FIG. 6 is a diminutive perspective view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, this view illustrating the hand of a person and the friction roller of the toy in engagement with a surface to effect the starting of the spinning of the toy.

In its preferred form and best mode of construction and manner of using the same, my improved hand manipulated toy preferably comprises a reel, a handle rotatably supporting said reel, together with a flexible cord fastened at its one end to said reel, and a ball affixed to the other end of said cord; manual gripping and manipulation of said handle effecting the rotation of said reel and the winding and unwinding of said cord upon the shaft thereof and the centrifugal movement of said ball in various controlled orbits about said reel.

As particularly illustrated in FIG. 1 of the annexed drawings, I provide a reel which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and which is mounted for relative rotational movement on a handle 11 which can be of any desired length and formed to any desired cross-section, such as circular, hexagonal, octagonal or the like. The reel as well as the handle can be fabricated from wood, a light-weight metal, such as aluminum, or from any suitable plastic substance such as a urea of phenal condensate, and, of course, the reel can be made from the same as or a different material from the frame.

The reel 10 is preferably formed to the shape illustrated in FIG. 1 of the annexed drawings, and comprises an inner flange l2 and an outer flange 13 each having a relatively straight flat central section merging into opposite curved extremities. These two extremities of each of the flanges l2 and 13 are fashioned with flat ends for receiving covers 14 and 15, respectively, which are each fashioned with a flat annular flange and shoulder for removably snapping the covers into their positions on the flanges. The cover 14 for the flange 12 is conveniently formed with a relatively large central opening 16 for passing the inner end of the handle 11.

In accordance with my present invention, the handle 1 1 is constructed with centrally located axial cavity 1 la which is tapered at its inner extremity, as at 11b, and which extends from the inner end of the handle. As a convenient means for mounting the reel 10 for relative rotational movement with respect to the handle 11, I provide a spindle 17 which is tapered at its inner end, as at 17a for press-fitting the cavity 11a and snugly fitting into the tapered extremity 11b thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the flange 12 preferably carries at the central straight section thereof a shaft 12a which can be formed integral with the flange and which extends normally therefrom; said shaft 12a having a central passage l2b extending longitudinally thereof coaxially with the cavity 11a of handle 1 1. The shaft 12a extends through an opening 13a in the straight portion of the flange l3 and into the recess 13b of an inwardly extending boss 13c carried by flange l3 and preferably formed integral therewith; the boss having a relatively short passage 13d extending through its inner end and communicating with the recess 13b thereof coaxially with the groove or passage 12b of shaft 12a.

In assembling and mounting of the reel upon the handle 11 for relative rotational movement with respect to one another, a suitable jig, not shown, is pro vided for holding the handle 11 in an upright position and the inner flange 12 with its cover 14 is slipped over the inner end of the handle, after first disposing a washer 18 over such inner end which is at the top of the jig. Then, the outer flange 13, without its cover 15, is slipped into place with the recess 13b of the boss 13c engaging around the shaft 12a, and a washer 19 is then placed upon the outer end of the boss 13c with the hole of the washer aligned or in registry with the passage 13d of the boss. Thereafter, the spindle 17 is passed through the passage and recess of the boss 13:: and through the longitudinally extending passage or groove 12b, as well as through washer 18 and press-fitted into the cavity 11a of the handle by bringing the head 17b into abutment with the outer end of boss 130. The flange 13 may remain uncovered or it can be closed by snapping cover into position on the straight ends of the curved extremities thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, I provide a cord 20 which is wound upon and unwound from the reel 10 during playing with the toy; the inner end of the cord being passed through an opening 21 in the flange 12 in close underlying relation to the shaft 12a and knotted, as indicated at 210 to hold the cord in suspended position in relation to the reel. To the outer end of the cord 20 a weighted object, such as a ball 22, is fastened and the weight of the ball is so proportioned to the weight of the reel, including all components thereof, that optimum performance in whirling the ball about the reel is attained. I have found that for optimum results and smoothest action, the ball should have a weight of from 67 to 70 percent of the weight of the reel with its components. If the latter had a weight of 100 grams, then the ball should weigh 67-70 grams. It is to be understood that the cord 20 can be a plain cotton or hemp string, or it can be elastic or fabricated of plastic material, and in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises a single strand of cord of indeterminate length. The weighted object 22, if a ball, can be of rubber, soft plastic, sponge or other soft material but capable of bouncing.

Anyone playing with the improved toy of my present invention, embodied as illustrated in FIG. 1 can increase his skill and dexterity from the start. When first playing with the toy, the handle 11 with attached reel 10 is held in one hand and the ball 22 in the other hand, see FIG. 4. The reel is spun with the thumb or a finger of one hand to start the winding up of the cord 20. When a small amount of the cord has been wound upon shaft 12a of the reel, the ball 22 should be pulled back and forth until the reel takes up all of the cord 20. Thereupon the thumb or finger holding the reel is withdrawn therefrom and the ball 22 is pushed strongly away from the shaft 12a towards the floor and released from the hand. If the application of force is great enough in moving the ball 22 manually towards the floor, the cord and attached ball will rewind upon the reel and as this action increases in speed, the ball 22 will flip over the top of the reel, and this flipping action, done by flipping of the wrist of the hand which is holding handle 1 1, is the principal object of playing with the toy. It is essential, in playing with the toy, to keep tension on the cord 20 in order to be in constant control of the ball 22 and its orbit of revolution and to maintain the ball in motion with the cord 20 in substantial alignment with the shaft 12a of the reel, or between the flanges l2 and 13. The curved extremities of the flanges assist in maintaining such alignment and serve to guide the string in between them. The three principles for effecting optimum performance are (1) feeling the weight of the ball, (2) sighting the ball at all times by watching it constantly and (3) listening for the sound of the reel as the cord reels out and reels in. Thus the ball is reeled out, reeled in and the wrist or arm flipped to attain large or small orbital movements either to the right or to the left since the wrist motion can effect clockwise or counter-clockwise movement of the ball 22 with relation to the reel and it is possible, with skill and dexterity to move the ball successively and repetitively in one direction of rotation or to move the same alternately in one direction and in an opposite direction.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings, I have illustrated a modification or alternative embodiment of my present invention. In this modification, I provide a differently constructed reel and rotatably mount the same on a handle 111 in a different manner than the reel 10 on the handle 11; such construction nevertheless employing similar flanges 112 and 113 having inner straight portions merging into curved extremities at opposite ends of each thereof with snap-on covers or lids 114 and 115 respectively, as in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 2, a unitary coupling or shaft 112a is fitted into the opposed or confronting straight portions of flanges 112 and 113 with annular flanges 1121) and 1 13b on the coupling press-fitted into annular recesses 112a and 1130, respectively, fashioned on such straight portions of the reel flanges 112 and 113. Covers 114 and 1 15, respectively, are provided for the flanges 112 and 1 13.

In accordance with my invention as embodied in the construction shown in FIG. 2, the cover 114 of the reel 110 is formed with a central opening 116 therein for passing the inner end of a trigger sleeve hereinafter described, and I provide a spindle 117 for effective relative rotational mounting of the reel 110 on handle 11 1; such spindle having a tapered inner end 1170 which seats in the tapered end of a cavity 111a formed in and extending inwardly from the inner end of the handle 111. Preferably, for purposes of durability and strength, the inner end 117b, of the spindle 117 is enlarged and the cavity 11 1a in handle 1 1 1 is similarly enlarged to accommodate the same. Suitable washers 1 18 and 119 are slipped upon the spindle and function as described below. The construction affords the suspension on the hub or coupling 112a of reel 110 of a string or cord 120 which is preferably a double strand cord having a loop formed at its inner end for coiling about the coupling 112a and which carries a weighted object, such as a ball 122 on its outer end. In order to secure the looped end of cord 120 about the coupling 112a, I provide a slip pin 123 arranged within a passage 124 formed in the coupling adjacent to one end thereof; such slip pin 123 being fashioned with a head 123a thereon which is engageable by a flanged inner end of the trigger sleeve 125 which is normally urged inwardly by tension spring 121 disposed in a counter bore 125a of the sleeve 125 at the reduced portion 127 of spindle 117 and confined between the outer end of enlarged section 117b of the spindle 117 and an inner wall 125!) of the trigger sleeve. An annular recess 126 is formed on the sleeve to provide a finger grip enabling the with drawal of the sleeve 125 from its normal, at rest position; such withdrawal action causing the movement of the slip pin 123 to expose the central portion of the hub or coupling 112a and thus permit the looping of the looped end of the cord 120 over the shaft of the reel.

Once the looped end of the cord is in retained position on the coupling 112a, the finger can release the trigger sleeve 125 and permit it to return to its normal position and the pin 123 is pushed back to its initial position to hold the cord on the coupling or shaft 112a. The washer 118 serves as a stop for the inward movement of the head of slip-pin 123 and prevents damage to or frictional resistance against the coupling 112a. The washer 119 serves to hold the reel assembly on the spindle 117 during rotation thereof. An enlarged detail of the twisted double strand cord is shown in FIG. 3 with the cord per se designated by the reference numeral 220 and the looped portion thereof extending about the shaft 212a with the slippin passage designated by the reference numeral 224 and with the coupling generally designated by the reference numeral 230. Skilled plays can manouever the centrifugal action of the ball 122 so as not only to cause the same to fly in both directions of rotation about the reel 110 but also, by pulling the trigger sleeve 125 in the direction of the arrow, indicated at 128, to maintain the ball 122 in an at rest position hanging from the spinning reel at substantially right angles to the shaft of the reel; such at rest position of the ball being aptly termed sleeping. Since the reel is still spinning while the ball is sleeping, it will require a release of the trigger sleeve 125 to effect the re-winding of the cord 120 with ball 120 about the shaft 112a; such release of trigger sleeve 125 causing the slip-pin 123 to return to its original position holding the loop cord 120 on the central shaft section of coupling 112a.

A still further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the annexed drawings. This alternative embodiment can function or be operated as a toy in the same manner as the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 by exerting twisting movements of the wrist or arm to control the orbital movement of the ball, or cord and ball can be removed and the toy employed as a spinning gyro type top in the same manner as the spinable stringless top disclosed and claimed in my US. Patent, No. 3,523,386, can be enjoyed,

In accordance with my invention, 1 provide in the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a spe cially constructed reel which is generally designated by the reference numeral 310 and which is rotatably mounted on a handle 311 for grasping by either the right or left hand of a person desiring to play with the top. The reel 310 comprises a flange 312 arranged in opposed relation to a flange 313, each flange having a straight flat section which confront each other and which merge into opposite curve extremities. The flange 312 is formed with a flat annular outer end for receiving by snap-fit a cover or lid 314. As shown, the flange 313 supports a relatively long outwardly tapering extension 315 which may be formed integrally with the flange, and the flange 313 is fashioned with a relatively large central opening 313a which is coaxial with a similar opening 316 in flange 312 for passing the inner end of the handle 31 1. Flange 312 is also so fashioned as to provide thereon an inwardly extending boss 312 having a lateral extension thereon which constitutes a shaft 312a of the reel; such extension having a longitudinally extending passage 312b therethrough which is coaxial with a relatively long cavity 311a formed in the handle 311 and terminating in a tapered end 31119 for receiving the spindle 317 which is pressfitted into the cavity with its tapered inner end 317a seated in the tapered end 311b of the handle 31]. A suitable washer 318 is fitted over spindle 317 between the inner recessed end of handle 311 and the outer end of the boss 312 of flange 312, and a similar washer 319 is conveniently fitted over spindle 317 between the flat head 31717 of the spindle and the inner end of boss 312 of flange 312. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a single strand cord, which is partially indicated by the broken line 320 is passed through a hole 320a formed in shaft 312a, and knotted at its upper end for retention on such shaft with a ball, not shown, depending therefrom at the lower end of cord 320.

As illustrated in both FIGS. 5 and 6 of the annexed drawings, the outer end of the tapered extension 315 of flange 313 is formed with an enlarged starting element 315a when the toy is used as a gyro top, which can be rubberized or coated with friction material and made integral with the extension or made as a separate memher and detachably connected to the outer end of such extension, which is bored to receive a member having a rounded spinning tip 321 at its outer extremity on which the toy can ride as a spinning gyro top with the reel 310 functioning as a flywheel or rotor to maintain the spin of the top for appreciable periods. In use as a top, the handle 311 is grasped with one hand, see FIG. 5, and the starting friction roller 315a is repeatedly rolled in engagement with a relatively hard surface 323, such as pavement, with the rolling action of the starting friction element 315a in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the curved arrow 324. Of course, the cord, and attached ball not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, are first removed from the shaft of the reel by untying the knot, or raising the cord and cutting the same. The cords 20 and of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 can similarly be removed for replacement with a new cord 20 or 120.

The toy of my present invention has numerous advantageous features, as hereinabove described, and can be used as an educational device for training persons in coordinating the eyes with a flying or fast moving object as well as improving the hearing. Moreover, the toy is capable in use of toning the wrist and arm muscles while enjoying playing with the same as an amusing game. Furthermore, the toy will teach a person to concentrate how to use the hands with deftness and dexterity running through a wide range of movements from increased forceful movements to gentle movements, together with an increased ability to control hand movements in either large arcuate or circular whirling movements to smaller and smaller movements either abruptly or gradually.

It is clear from the foregoing description and accompanying illustrations that the handle of the toy can be dexteriously employed with either the right hand or the left hand, and the handle can be interchanged in the hands while keeping the reel spinning and the cord carrying the ball maintained under tension at all times despite the length of the radius of the circle or are. With continued playing, a persons skill can be so developed that a slack in the cord will never occur during play, or at least the cord will slacken only occasionally.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all of the embodiments illustrated as well as other embodiments embracing the invention.

I claim:

1. A hand manipulated toy for effecting the movement of a weighted object in a plurality of different large and small orbits in vertical and horizontal planes by the turning of the wrist of the arm manipulating the toy in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions repetitively and alternately; said hand-manipulated toy comprising a gripping handle, a reel, mounting means connecting reel to said handle for relative rotational movement with respect to one another; said reel and said mounting means having a predetermined weight, a cord fastened at its one end to said reel; said cord being adapted to be wound upon and to be unwound from said reel, and a weighted object fastened to the other end of said cord; said weighted object and said cord having a weight approximately 65-72 percent of said predetermined weight.

2. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a spindle extending interiorly of and substantially the length of said handle.

3. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reel comprises an inner flange having a central opening therein for passing said handle, an inwardly extending boss on said inner flange, a lateral extension on said boss defining a reel shaft having a passage therethrough, and an outer flange having a central opening therein for passing said reel shaft and retaining the same with its passage coaxial with the bore of said handle.

4. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 3 wherein said inner flange has a relatively small opening therein for passing the inner end of said cord, a knot on the inner end of said cord for holding said cord against 8 release through said relatively small opening in said flange.

5. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 3 wherein the outer extremities of said inner flange and of said outer flange are curved for guiding said cord into the space between said flange to facilitate the winding and unwinding of said cord upon and from said reel shaft.

6. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reel comprises a pair of confronting opposed flanges consisting of an inner flange and an outer flange, and a reel shaft supported on the confronting portions of said opposed flanges and occupying the space between them; said shaft being recessed at diametrically opposite points and having a relatively small opening extending therethrough at such points for passing a loop of said cord.

7. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 6 wherein said mounting means comprises a spindle extending interiorly of and substantially the length of said handle.

8. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 7, and a loop on the inner end of said cord encircling said reel shaft; said reel shaft having a transverse slit therethrough, a slip-pin in said transverse slit in overlying engaging relation with said loop to retain the cord in operative position, a flat head on said slip-pin, and a springloaded sleeve slidably mounted on said spindle, an inner extension on said sleeve, a lateral flange on said extension engageable with said flat head on said slippin; Withdrawal of said spring-loaded sleeve outwardly from said inner flange effecting the partial withdrawal of said slip-pin from said transverse slit of said reel shaft to permit access to and removal of the loop end of said cord from said shaft for replacement of the cord.

9. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 3 wherein said outer flange has an outwardly projecting tapered extension thereon, and a friction roller on the outer end of said extension. 

1. A hand manipulated toy for effecting the movement of a weighted object in a plurality of different large and small orbits in vertical and horizontal planes by the turning of the wrist of the arm manipulating the toy in clockwise and counterclockwise directions repetitively and alternately; said handmanipulated toy comprising a gripping handle, a reel, mounting means connecting reel to said handle for relative rotational movement with respect to one another; said reel and said mounting means having a predetermined weight, a cord fastened at its one end to said reel; said cord being adapted to be wound upon and to be unwound from said reel, and a weighted object fastened to the other end of said cord; said weighted object and said cord having a weight approximately 65-72 percent of said predetermined weight.
 2. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a spindle extending interiorly of and substantially the length of said handle.
 3. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reel comprises an inner flange having a central opening therein for passing said handle, an inwardly extending boss on said inner flange, a lateral extension on said boss defining a reel shaft having a passage therethrough, and an outer flange having a central opening therein for passing said reel shaft and retaining the same with its passage coaxial with the bore of said handle.
 4. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 3 wherein said inner flange has a relatively small opening therein for passing the inner end oF said cord, a knot on the inner end of said cord for holding said cord against release through said relatively small opening in said flange.
 5. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 3 wherein the outer extremities of said inner flange and of said outer flange are curved for guiding said cord into the space between said flange to facilitate the winding and unwinding of said cord upon and from said reel shaft.
 6. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reel comprises a pair of confronting opposed flanges consisting of an inner flange and an outer flange, and a reel shaft supported on the confronting portions of said opposed flanges and occupying the space between them; said shaft being recessed at diametrically opposite points and having a relatively small opening extending therethrough at such points for passing a loop of said cord.
 7. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 6 wherein said mounting means comprises a spindle extending interiorly of and substantially the length of said handle.
 8. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 7, and a loop on the inner end of said cord encircling said reel shaft; said reel shaft having a transverse slit therethrough, a slip-pin in said transverse slit in overlying engaging relation with said loop to retain the cord in operative position, a flat head on said slip-pin, and a spring-loaded sleeve slidably mounted on said spindle, an inner extension on said sleeve, a lateral flange on said extension engageable with said flat head on said slip-pin; withdrawal of said spring-loaded sleeve outwardly from said inner flange effecting the partial withdrawal of said slip-pin from said transverse slit of said reel shaft to permit access to and removal of the loop end of said cord from said shaft for replacement of the cord.
 9. A hand manipulated toy as set forth in claim 3 wherein said outer flange has an outwardly projecting tapered extension thereon, and a friction roller on the outer end of said extension. 